Shortly after posting a third straight lineup without Maybin’s name, the Padres announced their most exciting player will return to San Diego Tuesday morning to have a MRI exam of his right wrist.

“It is still sore,” Padres manager Bud Black said of Maybin’s wrist before the Padres lost a fifth straight game, falling 4-1 to the Dodgers and left-hander Clayton Kershaw in a match of 23-year-old starting pitchers.

“Cameron’s wrist is still a little painful,” continued Black. “Let’s make sure nothing else is going on.”

Two days ago, the Padres said an MRI exam of Maybin’s injury wasn’t necessary. But the lack of improvement in the wrist has forced a change in plans.

And teams don’t usually seek MRIs if nothing is wrong.

“It’s getting better, but not as fast as expected,” said Maybin. “I’m hoping the MRI gives me a little peace of mind.”

Maybin, 24, was a late scratch Saturday night in Arizona after the wrist became sore during batting practice.

Maybin said the wrist had bothered him for a couple of weeks and the condition worsened Friday night on a leaping catch at the padded center field wall at Chase Field in Phoenix.

Maybin’s right wrist hit the wall with enough force to leave an indentation in the padding. He then hit the ground with the right wrist while bracing his fall.

Before Saturday night, Maybin had missed only two of 64 games since returning from the disabled list on June 13. He had missed 16 games with an inflammation in his right knee.

Since his return, Maybin, who was acquired from Florida last winter in a trade for relief pitchers Ryan Webb and Edward Mujica, has blossomed into the Padres top all-around player.

He is hitting .290 since being reinstated and has hit .301 since the All-Star break with seven doubles, three homers, 32 runs scored and 14 RBI in 39 games. He has 20 steals since the break.

Black believes Maybin, the 10th overall pick of the Detroit Tigers in the 2005 draft, has thrived because the Padres were the first team to let him play every day.

Maybin agrees.

“I’m not worried about making a mistake,” Maybin said recently. “The Padres have my back. That’s helped me get a lot of confidence.”

“He is a talented player,” Black said of Maybin.

“We had the situation on our club where we could give him the reps he needed to develop as a player. He’s not looking over his shoulder. And he’s ready moreso that any time earlier in his career.

“I think there is more in there. He has the talent to be better. As he grows, he’ll hit more homers and drive in more runs.”

Maybin leads the Padres in hits (118), runs (70), triples (6), total bases (172) and steals (32). He is hitting .275 with a .333 on-base percentage and .401 slugging percentage.

The Padres Monday night were down to four of their eight starting position players on Opening Day.